Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2012
86 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of parliamentary questions transferred from his Department to other Departments in the past six months; the reasons they were transferred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21148/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not routinely collect data on the number of Parliamentary Questions transferred to other Departments. It is not possible therefore to provide a definitive response to this question. I can confirm that in the six month period from November 2011 to 25 April 2012 my Department answered approximately 2000 Parliamentary Questions. It has been estimated by officials in my Department that approximately 60 Parliamentary Questions were initially submitted to my Department and transferred to other Departments during this period.
The main reason for transferring a Parliamentary Question is when the subject matter of a particular question falls within the responsibility of another Minister. Questions are also transferred, in accordance with Standing Orders, when the subject matter has been addressed within the previous two weeks in the case of a question for written answer, or within the previous four months in the case of a PQ for oral answer (or in response to an issue raised under Standing Order 21).
